Connector arrangement

ABSTRACT

A connector arrangement for detachably interconnecting sections of an operating table. The arrangement includes a first component ( 1 ) for associating with a first section of the operating table and a second component ( 3 ) for associating with a second section of the operating table. The first component ( 1 ) includes a housing ( 5 ) having an aperture ( 17 ) therein, and a latch assembly ( 7 ) having a latch member ( 18 ) biased to extend into the aperture ( 17 ). The second component ( 3 ) includes a projecting leg ( 9 ) adapted to be received within the aperture ( 17 ). The leg ( 9 ) includes a restraining surface ( 33 ) engageable with the latch member ( 19 ). The second component ( 3 ) further includes a release mechanism ( 13 ) for moving the latch member ( 19 ) between a locked position in which the latch member ( 19 ) engages with the restraining surface ( 33 ) to prevent withdrawal of the projecting leg ( 9 ), and an unlocked position in which the latch member ( 19 ) is disengaged from the restraining surface ( 33 ) thereby enabling separation of the components ( 1, 3 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector. The connector isespecially suited for detachably interconnecting table top sections ofan operating table. It will therefore be convenient to describe theinvention in relation to that example application. It should beunderstood however that the invention is intended for broaderapplication and use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Operating tables include a table top for supporting a patient duringsurgical procedures. The tables are typically made up of a plurality ofinterconnected table top sections which include a head supportingsection, a back supporting section and a leg supporting section. Thesections can be orientated at varying angles with respect to each othersuch that the patient can be suitably positioned for the requiredsurgical procedure.

In the past, table top sections have been connected with some form ofconnector arrangement having a projecting pin, mounted or integrallyformed with a section, which can be securely located into acomplementary-shaped aperture, mounted or integrally formed with anadjoining section.

A problem with such prior connector arrangements is that they areusually required to be manually secured, once the projecting pins arelocated in their respective aperture, by some form of clamping device.As the sections can be of substantial weight one person is usuallyrequired to hold a section whilst another person manipulates and securesthe connector arrangement.

A further problem with prior connector arrangements is that asignificant amount of force is required to release the projecting pinsfrom their apertures. In addition, the consequences of falling toproperly secure the sections or dropping a section could be seriousinjury to either those attaching or removing the section or the patienton the table. A further consequence of dropping a section is that theend of the projecting pins can be damaged rendering the sectionunusable.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a connector arrangementfor detachably interconnecting sections of an operating table whichovercomes or ameliorates at least one of the abovementioned problems ofthe prior art.

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in thisspecification is included to explain the context of the invention. Itshould not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed partof the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevantart in Australia or any other country on or before the priority date ofthe claims herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a connectorarrangement for detachably interconnecting sections of an operatingtable. The arrangement includes a first component for associating with afirst section of the operating table and a second component forassociating with a second section of the operating table. The firstcomponent includes a housing having an aperture therein, and a latchassembly having a latch member which is biased to extend into theaperture.

The second component includes a projecting leg adapted to be receivedwithin the aperture. The projecting leg including a restraining surfaceengageable with the latch member. The second component further includesa release mechanism for moving the latch member between a lockedposition and an unlocked position. In the locked position the latchmember engages with the restraining surface to prevent withdrawal of theprojecting leg from the aperture. In the unlocked position the latchmember is disengaged from the restraining surface thereby enablingseparation of the components.

Preferably, the release mechanism is in part located within a recess inthe projecting leg. In a particularly preferred embodiment the recess isa tunnel within the projecting leg and main body of the second componentthrough which a release rod of the release mechanism is housed. Therelease rod may include an end section for moving the latch member tothe unlocked position. The end section of the release rod can include arelease notch engageable with an end surface of the latch member. Therelease rod is preferably rotatable about a longitudinal axis of therelease rod to push the latch member to the unlocked position. Inaddition, the longitudinal axis of the release rod is preferably offsetfrom a longitudinal axis of the projecting leg.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the release rod is rotatablebetween an active and inactive position. When the release rod is in theinactive position the latch member remains in the locked position. Whenthe release rod is in the active position the latch member remains inthe unlocked position. Preferably, the latch member moves from thelocked position to the unlocked position when the release rod is rotatedfrom the inactive position to an active position. The release mechanismfurther includes a rod biasing means for biasing the release rod towardsthe inactive position. The release rod may be manually held in theactive position by a user during separation of the components.

An end of the projecting leg preferably includes a lip member over whichthe latch member rides during insertion of the projecting leg into theaperture. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the restrainingsurface is a side wall of the lip member and preferably lies in a planesubstantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the latch member. Inaddition, an edge of a top surface of the lip member is preferablysubstantially aligned with an end surface of the latch member when thelatch member is in the unlocked position. In this position the latchmember is disengaged from the restraining surface such that theprojecting leg can be pulled out of the aperture.

The first component is preferably integrally formed with the firstsection of the operating table and the second component is preferablyintegrally formed with the second section of the operating table. Thefirst and second sections of the operating table are preferablyinterconnected by the connector arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention. The preferred embodiment should not be considered as limitingany of the statements in the previous section. The preferred embodimentwill be described with reference to the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector arrangement,according to an embodiment of the invention, illustrating the firstcomponent coupled to the second component with the latch member in alocked position;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the second component, according to an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2A is a side cross-sectional view of the second component takenalong line B-B shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the release mechanism of the second component,according an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A is an end view of the release mechanism shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 4 is an end, part sectional view, taken along line C-C shown inFIG. 1, of the latch assembly of the first component and the release rodand projecting leg of the second component.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the accompanying drawings there is shown a connectorarrangement for detachably interconnecting sections of an operatingtable. The arrangement includes a first component 1 securable to asecond component 3. The first component 1 includes a housing 5 and alatch assembly 7. The second component 3 includes a projecting leg 9which is integrally formed with a main body 11. The second component 3further includes a release mechanism 13 which is partially locatedwithin a recess in the projecting leg 9. The recess is preferably in theform of a tunnel 15 which extends through the projecting leg 9 and themain body 11. The projecting leg 9 is adapted to be received in acomplimentary aperture 17 located within the housing 5.

The latch assembly 7 includes a latch member 19 housed within a bore 21located in a side wall of the aperture 17. A longitudinal axis 57 of thelatch member 19 and bore 21 can lie generally perpendicular to alongitudinal axis of the aperture 17. The bore 21 includes an uppersection and a lower section. The upper section has a diameter which isgreater than the lower section. The latch assembly 7 further includesbiasing means, preferably in the form of a resilient spring 23, whichbiases the latch member 19 to at least partially extend into theaperture 17. The resilient spring 23 generally resides within the uppersection of the bore 21. The lower section of the bore 21 is providedwith a low friction bearing 27 to prevent the latch member 19 snaggingon the walls of the lower section of the bore 21. In order to provideaccess to the resilient spring 23 and the latch member 19 a screwthreaded end cap 29 is provided on an exterior of the housing 5. In thisrespect, the end cap 29 can be threaded onto a corresponding threadlocated in the walls of the upper section of the bore 21.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 2A an end of the projecting leg 9 remote fromthe main body 11 of the second component 3 includes a lip member 31which is shaped such that the latch member 19 can slide over the lipmember 31 as the projecting leg 9 is inserted into the aperture 17. Aside wall of the lip member 31 provides a restraining surface 33 whichengages with a side of the latch member 19. In this position the latchmember 19 is extended and in its locked position whereby the projectingleg 9 can not be withdrawn from the aperture 17. As can be seen in FIG.1 the projecting leg 9 is prevented from further insertion into theaperture 17 by the abutment of the main body 11 of the second component3 against an exterior wall of the housing 5.

The release mechanism 13 includes a release rod 35 which extends throughthe tunnel 15 in the projecting leg 9 and main body 11. The releasemechanism 13 further includes a release handle 37 at an end remote fromthe projecting leg 9 which projects laterally from the release rod 35.An end section of the release rod 35 remote from the release handle 37lies adjacent to the restraining surface 33. The end section ispreferably in the form of a release notch 39 which engages with an endsurface 41 of the latch member 19. The release rod 35 is rotatable abouta longitudinal axis 43 of the release rod 35 between an inactive andactive position. In FIG. 1 the release rod 35 is shown in an inactiveposition with the latch member 19 fully extended into the aperture 17 tothereby be in a locked position. By laterally moving the release handle37 about the longitudinal axis 43 of the release rod 35 the release rod35 can be rotated into an active position whereby the end surface 41 ofthe latch member 19 is pushed into the bore 21 such that an edge 46 ofthe lip member 31, located at the intersection of a top surface 45 ofthe lip member 31 and the restraining surface 33, is aligned with theend surface 41 of the latch member 19. The latch member 19 is thereby inan unlocked position as the end surface 41 of the latch member 19 is nolonger engaged with the restraining surface 33 thereby enabling theprojecting leg 9 to be removed from the aperture 17. In this regard,during removal of the projecting leg 9 the end surface 41 of the latchmember 19 slides over the top surface 45 of the lip member 31 with thelatch member 19 subsequently returning to its fully extended or lockedposition.

The release mechanism 13 further includes a return spring 47 whichbiases the release rod 35 to the inactive position. One end of thereturn spring 47 is located in a hole 49 provided in the release rod 35.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in order to retain the release rod 35 withinthe tunnel 15 a groove 51 is provided in the release rod 35 into which aretaining pin 53, secured within the main body 11, is located.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the longitudinal axis 43 of therelease rod 35 is offset from a longitudinal axis 55 of the projectingleg 9. Further, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the longitudinal axis 57 ofthe latch member 19 and bore 21 is offset from a transverse axis 56 ofthe release rod 35 and projecting leg 9. In addition, the diameter ofthe projecting leg 9 is slightly less than the diameter of the aperture17 such that the projecting leg 9 can be inserted into the aperture 17without excessive force being applied. The top surface 45 of the lipmember 31 is preferably flat and lies perpendicular to the restrainingsurface 33. The top surface 45 is formed by removing an upper segment ofthe lip member 6. The edge 46 of the lip member 31, at the intersectionof the top surface 45 with the restraining surface 33, is aligned withthe end surface 41 of the latch member 19 when the latch member 19 hasbeen pushed by the release notch 39 to the unlocked position. When thisoccurs the latch member 19 is clear of the restraining surface 33 and issubsequently able to slide over the top surface 45 of the lip member 31.

In order to connect the first and second components 1, 3 the projectingleg 9 of the first component 1 is inserted into the aperture 17 in thehousing 5. Provided that the release handle 37 is not rotated and heldagainst the bias of the return spring 47 the release rod 35 will be inthe inactive position whilst the projecting leg 9 is being inserted. Asthe projecting leg 9 comes into contact with the latch member 19 thelatch member 19 will ride over the lip member 31, thereby progressivelycompressing the resilient spring 23 of the latch assembly 7. By furtherinserting the projecting leg 9 into the aperture 17 the latch member 19will slide over the top surface 45 and subsequently pass the restrainingsurface 33 such that the resilient spring 23 acting against the latchmember 19 relaxes and thereby automatically extends the latch member 19into the locked position whereby the restraining surface 33 will preventthe projecting leg 9 from being withdrawn from the aperture 17. Thefirst and second components 1, 3 are therefore automatically securelyconnected by simply pushing the components 1, 3 together.

In order to separate the first and second components 1, 3 the releasehandle 37 is rotated against the bias of the return spring 47, in eitherdirection, such that release rod 35 is rotated to the active position.The rotation of the release handle 37 to the active position causes therelease notch 39 to rotate about the longitudinal axis 43 of the releaserod 35 such that the end surface 41 of the latch member 19 is pushed,forcing the latch member 19 into the bore 21, thereby progressivelycompressing the resilient spring 23 of the latch assembly 7. In thisrespect, the longitudinal axis 57 of the latch member 19 and bore 21 isoffset from the transverse axis 56 of the release rod 35 and projectingleg 9 to assist the release notch 39 to engage with the end surface 41of the latch member 19 rather than a corner or side of the latch member19, when the release rod 35 is rotated. When the release rod 35 has beenfully rotated to the active position the end surface 41 of the latchmember 19 is disengaged from the restraining surface 33. By pulling therelease handle 37 in a direction away from the first component 1, whilstretaining the release handle 37 in the active position, the secondcomponent 3 can begin to be separated away from the first component 1.In this regard, once the end surface 41 of the latch member 19 isdisengaged from the restraining surface 33 the end surface 41 of thelatch member 19 is able to slide over the top surface 45 of the lipmember 31 to thereby permit separation of the first component 1 from thesecond component 3.

The present invention advantageously enables the release rod 35 to becontained behind the lip member 31 such that the release rod 35 isimmune from damage should the second component 3 be dropped or knocked.In addition, the first and second components 1, 3 when connected can besubjected to significant separation forces without damage occurring dueto the strength provided by the abutment of the latch member 19 with therestraining surface 33. Further, in the event of a failure in therelease mechanism 12, the first and second components 1, 3 aremaintained securely connected, thereby ensuring that sections of theoperating table which are connected by the connector arrangement can notinadvertently separate. Accordingly, a patient supported on theoperating table will remain safely supported at all times.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting form the central characteristics of the invention, it shouldbe understood that the above described embodiment should not beconsidered to limit the present invention but rather should be construedbroadly. Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intendedto be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, the projecting leg 9 could be of square, rectangular or roundcross-section and received within a complimentary shaped aperture 17.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A connector arrangement for detachablyinterconnecting sections of an operating table, the arrangementincluding a first component for associating with a first section of theoperating table and a second component for associating with a secondsection of the operating table, the first component including a housinghaving an aperture therein, and a latch assembly having a latch memberbiased to extend into the aperture, the second component including aprojecting leg adapted to be received within the aperture, the legincluding a restraining surface engageable with the latch member, thesecond component further including a release mechanism for moving thelatch member between a locked position in which the latch member engageswith the restraining surface to prevent withdrawal of the projectingleg, and an unlocked position in which the latch member is disengagedfrom the restraining surface thereby enabling separation of thecomponents.
 22. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the releasemechanism is in part located within a recess in the projecting leg. 23.An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the recess is a tunnelwithin the projecting leg and a main body of the second component. 24.An arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the release mechanismincludes a release rod housed within the tunnel.
 25. An arrangement asclaimed in claim 4 wherein the release rod includes an end section formoving the latch member to the unlocked position.
 26. An arrangement asclaimed in claim 5 wherein the release rod is rotatable about alongitudinal axis of the release rod to push the latch member to theunlocked position.
 27. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein theend section of the release rod includes a release notch engageable withan end surface of the latch member.
 28. An arrangement as claimed inclaim 4 wherein the release rod is rotatable between inactive and activepositions, wherein the latch member remains in the locked position whenthe release rod is in the inactive position and the unlocked positionwhen the release rod is in the active position.
 29. An arrangement asclaimed in claim 8 wherein the latch member moves from the lockedposition to the unlocked position when the release rod is rotated fromthe inactive to the active position.
 30. An arrangement as claimed inclaim 4 wherein the longitudinal axis of the release rod is offset froma longitudinal axis of the projecting leg.
 31. An arrangement as claimedin claim 1 wherein a longitudinal axis of the latch member is offsetfrom a transverse axis of the release rod.
 32. An arrangement as claimedin claim 11 wherein the restraining surface lies in a planesubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latch member. 33.An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein an end of the projectingleg includes a lip member over which the latch member rides duringinsertion of the projecting leg into the aperture.
 34. An arrangement asclaimed in claim 13 wherein the restraining surface is a side wall ofthe lip member.
 35. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14 wherein thelip member includes a top surface which intersects the restrainingsurface at an edge.
 36. An arrangement as claimed in claim 15 whereinthe edge is aligned with an end surface of the latch member when thelatch member is in the unlocked position.
 37. An arrangement as claimedin claim 8 wherein the release mechanism further includes a rod biasingmeans for biasing the release rod to the inactive position.
 38. Anarrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first component isintegrally formed with the first section and the second component isintegrally formed with the second section.
 39. An operating tableincluding a first and second section interconnected with an arrangementas claimed in claim 1.